Book Review- The Tightwad Gazette

The Complete Tightwad Gazette
LOVE this book! It's one of my favorite resources for frugal living. There are tons of ideas for saving money and reusing/fixing items you already have in your home. There are also tips on hardcore yardsale-ing, gardening, cheap meals, etc. This is a must-have for anyone who is trying to stretch a tight budget!

Cheaper greener tips for today!

*Carpooling-- Do you commute to the office? See if you can find a friend that lives nearby to carpool with. Another option for some people is to telecommute one or two days per week. Especially with gas prices the way they are, this can make a huge difference in your budget! On a smaller scale, how about carpooling to the grocery store with a neighbor? Perhaps someone who is elderly and doesn't drive would pitch in for gas money to run errands with you. It doesn't hurt to ask!

*Unplug your electronics chargers when they are not in use! Even when you are not charging something, these will suck electricity when plugged in.

*Only run dishwasher/washer/dryer when they are full. This saves on water, electricity, and detergent. Also, try this homemade dishwasher detergent: mix together equal parts borax and baking soda in a clean jar. Use 2 tblsp. per load (put in the bottom of DW).

Rave review for our Ergo

We got A LOT of use out of our new Ergo baby carrier this weekend when we took a trip to Philly. Oliver was a happy little boy riding around on mama and daddy. The snap on hood is great for when baby is sleeping and Karl (who has back problems) carried Ollie for several hours at a time without getting sore. Love it!

Look what I made!- Homemade laundry detergent

I just made my first batch of homemade laundry detergent! Here's the recipe:

1 C. Fels-Naptha soap, grated

1/2 C. Borax

1/2 C. Arm & Hammer Washing Soda

Use 1 tablespoon per load, so this recipe makes enough for 32 loads.

It cost me about $1.00 in ingredients to make this, so that works out to be about .03 per load--not too shabby! Even the cheapest detergents you can buy at the store cost at least 3 times that. I'll let you know how it works!

Read to your baby!

Just wanted to send out a reminder to all you mommies out there-- it's never too early to start reading to your little one! Ollie especially likes books with soft pages and textures so he can grab on and stick them in his mouth. Have a wonderful day!

Cheaper Greener Tips for Today!

*Go Yardsale-ing! Everyone loves a good yardsale, and that season is upon us--here are some tips to make your yardsale experience more enjoyable and efficient:

1-CHECK YOUR LOCAL PAPER for yardsale locations for the upcoming weekend and plan a route so that you won't be backtracking and wasting gas.

2-MAKE A LIST of items you are looking for and approximately what you are willing to spend on them (remember- a bargain isn't a bargain unless you have a use for it and a place to put it). Also keep in mind that if you are looking for clothing for a child that is not with you or furniture for a certain space, it is a good idea to write down measurments and bring a tape measure with you.

3-HAVE SMALL BILLS AND CHANGE on hand because it is easier to haggle if you have exact change for the price you are willing to pay.

4-WHEN YARDSALE-ING WITH CHILDREN, give each child a set amount of money ahead of time. This will alleviate the "mommy-i-want-that" and will teach them a lesson in budgeting and counting money.

Great website

Found this great website and wanted to share:
www.terrapass.com

Lots of green products and ideas to fight global warming!